Our names are Dr Marg Rogers (Australia), Associate Professor Laura Doan (Canada) and Professor Fabio Dovigo (Denmark) and we are contacting you as an educator of young children in in an early childhood setting in either Australia, Canada or Denmark.  We are studying professionalism in early childhood education settings.  

 

The study consists of an online survey, which should take up to 30 minutes to complete. There is a teleconference individual interview of up to 30 minutes at a later date, but only for those educators who are willing to be involved. To thank you for your time, 5 participants from each country who fully complete the survey will be awarded a voucher for $50AUD. Educators do not have to agree to an interview to be eligible.

 Research Project  

Early Childhood educators work within a highly regulated environment  

 

Aim of the Research  

It aims to find out more about the effect of the highly regulated environment on their work with children, their morale, motivation, wellbeing, supports and willingness to stay in the early childhood sector long term. 

 

Confidentiality  

Any personal details gathered in the course of the study will remain confidential. No individual will be identified by name in any publication of the results. All names will be replaced by pseudonyms; this will ensure your anonymity. If you agree I would like to quote some of your responses. This will also be done in a way to ensure that you are not identifiable. The online survey will be anonymous and the interview (optional) will be deidentified. 

 

Participation is Voluntary  

Please understand that your involvement in this study is voluntary and we respect your right to stop participating in the study at any time without consequence and without needing to provide an explanation, however, once you begin the survey your anonymous data which you have already provided cannot be withdrawn.  

 

Questions  

The survey questions and interview questions will be asking for your experiences as an early childhood educator in your setting.  

 

Use of Information  

We will use information from the online survey and optional interviews to help refine and improve pre-service teacher training and professional development support. Data may also be used in academic journal articles, conference presentations and online media engagement and articles. At all times, we will safeguard your identity by presenting the information in a way that will not allow you to be identified.  

 

Upsetting Issues  

It is unlikely that this research will raise any personal or upsetting issues but if it does you may wish to contact your local Community Health Centre or counselling service or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia), Hope for Wellness Helpline 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free)(Canada), (+45) 35 30 25 30 (Denmark).  

 

Storage of Information  

The online survey data and any electronic data will be kept on cloud.une.edu.au, UNE’s centrally managed cloud server managed by the research team. It will also be kept on a password protected computer in the same location. The research team will have access to the data, along with the systems we are using such as AARNet Recordings, Qualtrics, translation and transcription services. 

      Disposal of Information 

 

All the data collected in this research will be kept for a minimum of five years after publishing results, after which it will be disposed of by deleting relevant computer files. 

       Approval 

This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of New England (Approval No………., Valid to ../../….). 

 

Researchers' Contact  Details 

 

Feel free to contact the research team with any questions about this research, email ecdefenceprograms@une.edu.au. You may also like to contact the Chief Investigator, Dr Marg Rogers by emailing mbaber@une.edu.au or by phoning +61 2 6773 2218. In Canada, you can contact Associate Professor Laura Doan ldoan@tru.ca +1 (250) 371-5760.  In Denmark, you can contact Professor Fabio Dovigo fado@edu.au.dk  (+45) 8716 3681.  

      Complaints 

Should you have any complaints concerning the manner in which this research is conducted, please contact: Mrs Jo-Ann Sozou Research Ethics Officer Research Services University of New England Armidale, NSW 2351 Tel: +61 2 6773 3517 Email: humanethics@une.edu.au  

Regards,  

Dr Marg Rogers (University of New England, Australia) 

Associate Professor Laura Doan (Thompson Rivers University, Canada) 

Professor Fabio Dovigo (Aahus University, Denmark) 

 

Online Implied Consent for Participants  

Research Project: Early Childhood educators work within a highly regulated environment  

· I have read the information contained in the Information Sheet for Participants and any questions I have asked have been answered to my satisfaction. 

 · I agree to participate in this study, with the understanding that: 

 · My participation is voluntary, 

 · My contribution is anonymous 

 · Information concerning my identity will not be collected, and 

 · I may withdraw at any time without consequences & without follow-up. 

 · I agree that the anonymous research data collected for the study will form part of a research project and may be published, be part of media releases, or presented at conferences as a later date. · I agree that I may be quoted using a pseudonym. 

 · I am 18 years of age or over. 

 · In the preservation of anonymity, I understand that no name or signature is required of me to give consent. By activating the proceed button below I am agreeing to the above and also to participate in this study.